Ignis Amare

Complimentary Ignitions

"Is every place in this area flame related?" My love asks as we take our seats in a secluded booth.

"Crap, my name is Aiden, what's yours?" I ask realizing I never got her name.

"Kendra." She says letting out a breath.

"Kendra...I like it." I respond thoughtfully.

"To answer your question yes, this area, in particular, is a melting pot for different flames. Everything is neutrally flame named in an attempt to make people feel welcome no matter their color."

"Interesting, now talk. Tell me about my flame." She interjects impatiently.

"You're familiar with the story of Creation yes?"

"Of course. Everyone is. In the beginning God contracted and made space for creation to occur. God used the Divine Flame to start creation, and in the process, the Divine Flame split into the lesser flames that are carried today.

What does that have to do with either one of our flames? Why do I bring destruction wherever I go? Are you saying my flame is the destruction of creation?"

I laugh lightly. "I told you, you aren't death. In the beginning, an endless light contracted and in that space is where creation occurred right?"

"Right." She says flatly.

"What was in that space that God left for creation to fill?"

"Nothing." She says irritatedly.

"And from nothing came everything. Your flame isn't the flame of destruction. It is the flame of creation. You can absorb other flames because all flames originate from yours."

"Wait...if that's true then, your flame is-" her face flashes with understanding.

"Yes...my flame is the flame of destruction, the flame of the end. If all flames come from yours, all flames go to mine. I hold the Omega Flame, and you hold the Alpha Flame. You are the first and I am the last."

Her features start to twist in anger. "If that's true then that means everything I've been through was pointless! If I have that power why can't I control it?! Why do I destroy everything?!"

My eyes glow white. "It's simple. You don't destroy everything and you can control it. You just don't know how." I respond calmly.

As her rage intensifies her black hair starts shifting into her fire. "This is ridiculous, I thought you had real answers, but none of that gives me anything! Now I have to leave before I explode in this restaurant!" she imparts with teary eyes."

"Wait, that's just the beginning there's more-" before I can finish she's gone in flash faster than anyone's eyes could follow. Except for mine.

I take off after her in similiar fashion, following her black flame trail that disappears as quickly as it forms. She's going too fast. This is an explicit fire city. I wonder if she's ever used the power that she's creeping into before now.

Lightning isn't allowed here. I push faster to head her off before sparks start flying and cut her off in the desert outside the city.

"STOP following me. You have NO idea what I've been through up until this point, and then you have the nerve to tell me YOU'RE death instead of ME?!"

She starts sobbing as my heart breaks. I reach to hold her and she flinches. "Don't touch me!" She yells. "It's bad enough you're seeing me cry. I prefer to cry and scream alone! I've always been alone! Even now."

"So your flame is triggered by your emotions. That's kind of the opposite of mine."

"And how do you know that?!" She snaps as a black lightning bolt streaks from her.

"Because...you've been on fire this entire time and haven't noticed."

She pauses to look herself over. For the first time, she notices that her Alpha Flame is raging persistently to the point of lightning forming from it.

"I don't understand any of this." She whispers.

"Would you like to?" I reply in kind.

"Yes...I'm tired of running." She exhales as her flames start to calm.

"Stop shutting away your emotions. Feel them and accept them. You aren't death, you are life. Your feelings are beautiful, look at the flames they create. Aren't they beautiful?"

"You think they're beautiful?" She asks shyly.

"Of course, don't you?"

She goes silent while staring at the ground.

"Can't you just make them retreat, like you did before?"

I cross the distance between us. "I didn't. I don't control you or your flames and I don't want to. You didn't hurt me because you didn't want to. You could have if you wanted."

"So you got close to me not knowing what would happen?" She asks incredulously.

"There wasn't a second where I thought I was in danger. Even if you were a danger to me, I would run toward that danger with no hesitation."

"You would let me kill you?"

"Yes." I respond without hesitation.

"What's wrong with you?" She asks baffled.

I smile and say, "I love you."

"What if I loved someone else?"

"I love you."

"What if I betray you, what if I hurt you or actually kill you?" She asks voice slightly rising in exasperation.

"You've been in my dreams. I loved you then, I love you now and even if you killed me I would love you for it."

"Am I the only one that's been in your dreams?"

"No, I have visions/dreams all the time of the future. I've seen numerous people and events. However, you're the most important."

"Okay, what's the rest?" She asks patiently this time as her flames recede to just her hair.

"I'm not sure if you've encountered them, but there are people after us. Numerous groups for various reasons including, world domination, control, war, all the usual stuff.

You've been moving frequently and I assume trying not to use your flame, so they may not know your whereabouts or name. But they know who I am. They also know there are two flames."

"Tragic backstory?"

"Tragic backstory." I confirm.

"How tragic?"

"You haven't killed." I reveal with downcast eyes.

"And you have?" She questions calmly.

"...Yes...does that worry you?" I peek a glance at her.

"How did it feel?" She neutrally responds.

"Terrible afterward. That's why I've been hiding my flame. I've been trying to fight a different way."

"Then no, it doesn't."

"You're not going to ask how many? Or the context?" I ask a little surprised.

She doesn't respond verbally, as she opens her arms, causing me to look at her with confusion.

"So, you don't know that much after all."

"What are you talking about?" I ask oblivious.

Kendra hugs me tightly. "It's you who hasn't noticed this time. You're crying."